Serpent Lake my own summer

set a day after this thread!!

And now the sun had risen. Hira had, rather reluctantly, left the desert, once more on the prowl for the prince. Despite the weather growing colder, dipping, now, further into autumn, the area surrounding the dunescape was still warm enough for Hira to eventually grow sweaty, tired; thirsty, too.

The girl, having lost her fae-like whimsy just as the dawn broke, followed the sound of trickling water. A stream was nearby, and she felt she couldn't canter fast enough. Jaw open in a pant: tongue lolled out. Ears back. The sand from the desert lingered upon her toes even when she had made it to the grasslands. It was time for her to bathe.

Water, she could see it now. The wiggling on the horizon—was that the heat tricking her? No, the water, and the sounds, too, slowly drew closer. The river was thin, its belly lined with rocks, as was its bed. Hira craned her head downwards, tongue lapping at the water rather sloppily.

She was in no mood to meet anyone today. Hira had been gentle to the statue yesterday; she could not promise the same treatment to any other strangers.

Gently, she dipped herself into the stream, pawing at the stones as to remove the sand from her feet. Ah... this was nice.

Spindly limbs were weary after a night of seemingly aimless wandering. Dark paws had been dragged across the ground as Remort approached the stream. Pale eyes shone bleakly from his shadowed face.

At the edge of the stream, his head lowered and his tongue fell out to drink. Beads of water clung to his whiskers when he was quenched. He felt some energy restored but it could have merely been a placebo.

Frosted gold eyes scanned the skies for avians. Circling ravens or raptors that could guide him toward a kill rather than having more energy expelled in a hunt.

All he saw were songbirds darting to and fro across the blue expanse.

The desertborne girl had never been the type to let her defenses fall, not even for a moment. Her ear flicked at the sound of water shifting, and she turned her neck from where she relaxed within the stream. Searching the riverbed, the dot of a shadow landed within her gaze. It's head was bowed, clearly drinking. Then, it was looking upwards. At the sky, but what for?

Hira watched quietly, sitting in place. She shuffled her body around so that she'd be able to perceive the figure comfortably, rather than craning her neck. Eyes squinted. Nose almost wrinkled—from focusing too hard, or from the former frustration? This man was big, no doubt. And she... well, she would pale in comparison. This was not someone she could take her anger out on today.

What a shame.

So, she'd watch silently. Waiting; observing.

To see what he would do next.

It wasn't his lucky day but when the hell was it ever? He decided he would sniff around for a while—find something easy or something the vultures had missed. If he found nothing, he would cut his loses and try again come nightfall.

With a huff, his gaze was torn from the sky, returning to the earth. Nostrils flaring, he managed to find something sooner than he had anticipated. More alive than he wanted.

His gaze scanned the scenery around him before they settled on the wolf downstream. She was looking right at him. His brows furrowed as he glowered back.

And then their eyes met, and he did not seem so happy.

Hira stood from where she had been in the stream, pelt dripping wet, fur hanging downwards, heavy with water. Her skin was cool, black nose taking in the scent of the man who stood a few lengths away. Perhaps she was standing as a show of dominance, or perhaps she was going to come up and say hello. Either way, her rise didn't do much to disprove the disadvantage of her size.

Hira continued to be still, watching. Tongue flicked out to wet her lips. Tail flicked curiously. Paws shuffled in the water before carrying her to its bed; only to the side of her—not any closer to the stranger. But still, her eyes remained on him. Well, until she angled her head downwards, closed her eyes and shook off her pelt.

Then, she found her gaze on him again. Observing carefully. Micro-behaviours were present all throughout her body, insinuating some form of aggression, though not particularly towards him. For if it was directed to the stranger, she would've done something, said something by now.

She was not going to be the first to break the silence. If he wanted to be scowling and brooding, he could stay over there, for all she cared. If he wanted to say hello, then she would allow it, if only for a breath of a moment.

Remort watched, eyes squinted in scrutiny. Her movements seemed restless as she placed herself on the other side of the stream, like the trickle of water was an impenetrable barrier. The stench of wet fur made his snout wrinkle.

Even after shaking the water from her pelt, the stranger remained mute as she looked at him again.

What—can't talk?

He had caught her staring at him first. What'd she want?

Waiting for you to speak first, she replied smoothly. He'd been the one to interrupt her bath. There didn't seem to be many other scents around here. What an awful coincidence—having these two run into eachother. Someone so angry? She supposed she was similar: just kept it all within. Enjoying the silence of the morn'.

The best time to bathe, she had always thought, was dusk or dawn. She was a few hours late, however. Clearly frustrated with both this and her hunt. She could entertain this, though. Should the man not prove too snappy for her liking. Perhaps a threat was what she needed to get her ass in gear. Rejuvenise, even.

Warmth would slowly gather on her skin once more. The sun would dry her fur as she sat within its light. Brow bone and tall ears would cast a shadow over her amber hues. But the stranger; he was all shadow. Maybe even within his own soul, there was darkness. But Hira couldn't possibly know. Not yet.

How about you? Her tone was light, unintrusive, though with a slight, tired, angry gravel. She wondered if he would answer her question, or if he would go back to contemplating whatever that furrowed gaze had been thinking about before. She was standing again, now, never one to stay still for too long.

Back to taking a sip from the river.

Her words only made his gaze become more narrowed. He found no sense in her excuse for staring. The question made a brow twitch. Did Remort enjoy the "silence of the morn'"?

The inquiry was ignored. He cared little for small talk.

Seen a yearling recently?

Oh, what a shame. He reminded her somewhat of the statuesque girl he'd met only last night. All serious. Not a single drive for fun. Her mood significantly dampened. No longer did she have faith in this stranger, no. Now she was only fuelled by a drive to rest, then get back on the road in search for the fire-pelted prince.

No. She answered between sips. Her reply was curt. Sharp. Have you seen a man my age, taller, red? Hira looked up at the stranger once again. Should he reply with a no—and a no only—she would be on her way. Though if he wished to further entertain conversation, she would comply.

Or, would she? Probably. Maybe she could waste time from finding her brother. But if she went back to Siena empty-pawed, her father would not be happy. What. A. Shame.

Nonetheless, her ears were perked as to listen for what he would say next.

"No."

Of course not. The way she said it made his tail flick in irritation. She asked a question of her own, but Remort had already turned to venture further upstream with a swish of his tail and a scoff. He didn't tolerate such an attitude.

His interest in finding something to snack on waned. He would find the nearest fir and sleep the day away beneath it, and then continue his stupid search.

attempted exit x3

Again, another unanswered question. This was the second time, as well. Hira narrowed her gaze, a growl spilling from her lips as she watched the figure leave. Then she, too, turned. She wouldn't follow the man—she'd rather die, in truth—instead heading north-east.

When she met the statue, she'd wondered if she would encounter her again. With this man, though, she truly hoped that she didn't.

Now, it was time to continue after the prince. Not a single tip. A true shame.

exit hira!! i love your grumpy man - thanks for the thread <33